It’s a common feeling in the photography world that if you’re only shooting when you’re ‘getting paid’ that you’re not shooting enough. Basically, if you aren’t out practicing at your leisure, how do you ever expect to improve and evolve?! I’m a very firm believer in traveling outside ones comfort zone {I may be a believer in anything having to do with ‘travel’…} and jumped at the opportunity to join 13 other photographers in a workshop with Fer Juaristi in Des Moines a few weeks ago. For an entire day, Fer explained {in complete fabulous accent} how to see beyond what was right in front of you and using any type of light to your advantage.
Education in your craft is key. I won’t get on a soapbox about it {well, not today anyway!}, but I will say that it is absolutely essential to experiment and work out new theories and concepts. In photography and in life. Pull motivation from areas that may not necessarily be of usual interest. Take inspiration from everyday life. See moments as a possibility for movement and learning.
The simple concepts that Fer illustrated to us through his camera will very likely stay with me forever. They were not ground-breaking nor extensively presented, but gently offered to us to take or leave at our own digression. We’re all different; we all do business differently, we all shoot differently, we all react differently. He got that. He made it a point to say that everything we, as photographers, do, represents who we are and where we came from. Always be yourself and shoot what you love–and the rest will come. Keep it simple and for the love of all things, there is more to life than 1.2!
{I hope you enjoy a few of my favs from the workshop…these two had recently gotten married and came in just to play with us. There was no professional hair, makeup, or stylists of any kind–just photographers, two subjects and an ample amount of warehouse space. How much more simple can you get!?}
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